# The Hermit's Sacrifice explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

## What happens

A hermit intervenes in a gladiatorial contest at the Roman Colosseum, sacrificing his own life to stop the bloodshed. His martyrdom shames Rome into ending the brutal spectacles.

## Themes in this chapter

### Resilience and Sacrifice

The hermit's self-sacrifice demonstrates ultimate resilience and moral courage, choosing death to end the cycle of violence.

### Social Injustice and Class

The poem critiques the Roman elite's entertainment at the expense of human lives, highlighting class-based oppression.

## Character check-ins

### The Hero

The hermit who bravely steps between gladiators to stop the slaughter, ultimately dying for his cause.

### The People

The Roman crowd that initially cries for the hermit's death but later becomes thoughtful and ends the games.

## Key lines

> Cease your bloodshed, cried the hermit, On this carnage place your ban;

The hermit commanded the gladiators to stop fighting and outlaw the killing.

_The hermit's direct plea to end the violence._

> From that hour Rome, grown more thoughtful, Ceased her sport in human gore; And into her Colosseum Gladiators came no more.

After the hermit's death, Rome became reflective and permanently ended gladiatorial games.

_The lasting impact of the hermit's sacrifice._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters/the-hermit-s-sacrifice
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_7_se/chapters